Boyle AB Holy Resurrection Russo Orthodox Church and Cemetery 1935

Boyle, Alberta : Church and Cemetery of the Holy Resurrection, 1935

Prehistory

Boyle, Alberta, Canada, is situated about 140 km (87 mi) northeast of Edmonton. It began to be settled rather quickly in the 1930s.

The homesteaders arrived from Europe and other places, as well as from other parts of Canada and of the USA. It was their desire to own land, but it was necessary that they be hardy enough to persevere. They did meet difficult times, sometimes because of the climate. This is so in part because in this region, the winter minimum temperatures can approach 45 degrees below 0 Celsius, and because the frost-free season is rather short.

The area immediately north of Boyle, bordered by Flat Lake on the west and Skeleton Lake on the east, was settled largely by immigrants from various provinces of Ukraine, although many came from Volyn. Regardless of their specific provincial origins, they all had a religious up-bringing, so that, once the basic needs of food, clothing and shelter were met, the idea of a local church often came up in discussion.

Soon, the discussions became more serious and in 1934, after the harvest had been completed, a group of neighbours gathered at the farm home of Emil Ochotta to discuss and organise a parish and Temple. As a result of this meeting, they contacted Saint Barbara’s Russian Orthodox Church in Edmonton for help. Then they hoped to be able to have a priest to serve twice a year.

The then parish priest in that region, Archpriest Peter Vdovichenko, agreed to travel to Boyle to celebrate the Divine Liturgy when and if time (and weather) permitted. The first such service was held in the Monticello School in June, 1935. This was the first celebration of the Divine Liturgy of the Russian Greek Orthodox Church (ROGCCNA) in the Boyle District.

Founding the parish, 1935

Having met with success and encouragement, Emil Ochotta next organised a meeting at the home of Harry Kowalchuk. At this meeting, the Holy Resurrection Russian Orthodox Church of Boyle was officially founded. The founding members present at this meeting were :

 Anton Harnaha ; Fred Kovalchuk ; Harry Kovalchuk ; George Leschuk ; Peter Muzichuk ; 
 Stephen Nakonechny ; Philip Nichiporuk ; Emil Ochotta ; William Pasnak ; Hnat Ryl ; 
 Carl Shavoley ; Alexander Smolarchuk.

The first church board elected at this meeting consisted of :

 Emil Ochotta, Chairman ; Harry Kovalchuk, Secretary ; Stephen Nakonechny, Treasurer ; 
 and members Peter Muzichuk and Carl Shavoley.

Subsequent meetings attended to the business of raising funds and erecting the Temple. The members and supporters donated to the best of their abilities, some giving or pledging money, others giving lumber or voluntary labour.

Constructing the Temple, “the Church by the Lake”

George Leschuk donated a plot of land from his farm. This consisted of several acres, and it became the site for the new church and cemetery. The site was central to the homes of the parishioners, and it allowed a pleasant view of Skeleton Lake towards the east. It is a custom throughout the Canadian Prairie Provinces that a parish Temple will carry, besides its official name, a nickname that indicates the founder. In this case, it would be "Leschuks".

For construction, Alexander Smolarchuk donated some of his finest tamarack trees. Some of the Boyle merchants donated lumber and nails, and then construction began. With considerable help from the parishioners who were dedicated and enthusiastic, construction proceeded quickly. Within a short time, the building was closed in with windows and doors.

At this stage, construction suddenly came to a stop because of a lack of funds and materials. However, almost miraculously, a donation of $20.00 was received from Mr William Pasnak, who was an elderly retired pensioner and a founding member of the parish community. This contribution was sufficient to pay for the shingles and other supplies, and it enabled the construction to be completed and closed in for the winter of 1935.

The coming of winter did not appreciably slow down the activities of the parish. As the Christmas season approached, carolling was organised and the traditional custom of their homeland was revived. However, music first had to be found, and then volunteers had to be assembled and rehearsal times had to be organised. Then there was the difficulty of organising transportation for the singers. Since many people had actually brought music with them, and local publications were sometimes printing carols, it was ultimately not a great difficulty to organise what would be sung. Amongst the first carollers were :

 Alex Conrad ;  Fim Kowalchuk ; Steve, Lillian and Nadia Kowalchuk ; Annie and Stanley Leschuk ; 
 Annie and Vera Muzichuk ; Bill and Clem Nichyporuk ; Annie and Mike Ochotta ; 
 John, Nick and Walter Smolarchuk.

Emilian Ochotta was a trained and able cantor. As a result of the carolling, funds were raised to help the treasury of the newly-forming parish.

Most of the interior fixtures in the Temple were hand-crafted by the members. Floral arrangements were donated by the members and supporters, and the ladies sewed the processional banners. John Humeny, a blacksmith in Boyle, designed and crafted the Cross, which he donated to the congregation. This was lifted up to the top of the church and placed in position by Nick Smolarchuk during the dedication in April.

Sanctification of the Temple, 1936

The day for the dedication of the new church was planned for Sunday, 19 April, 1936, which was also a Memorial Sunday for the congregation. Father Peter Vdovichenko, who had arrived by railway on Friday, expressed his gratitude to God that the people had been able to accomplish this construction in the midst of such poor economic times. Those who were able to spend time with Father Peter found him to be extremely interesting and well-informed. They benefitted greatly from their encounters. On the day of the sanctification, the ideal weather supported the services, and the Temple was filled beyond capacity.

First parishioners

Erecting the Cross on the Temple after the blessing

Priest Peter Vdovichenko

However, with the outbreak of World War II in 1939, parish life was disrupted. Some parishioners moved to Edmonton in order to find work. By the end of the war, a few people returned, but there had begun a decline in numbers because of economic changes.

Nevertheless, in 1947, there was a time of renewal which allowed for the completing of the interior of the Temple and the landscaping of the cemetery.

Move to the Moscow Patriarchate Parishes

In the 1970s, the parish began to be served by clergy of the Moscow Patriarchate. This occurred in part since there was a shortage of clergy in the Archdiocese of Canada (OCA), and in part because by that time the Moscow Patriarchate Parishes had Archbishop Panteleimon (Rudyk) living in the city of Edmonton.

Holy Resurrection Russo-Orthodox Cemetery (Monticello), 1935

Holy Resurrection Rosso-Orthodox Cemetery was established in 1935. It is not written why there is the added description "Monticello", but the founding parishioners are interred in this cemetery.

The GPS co-ordinates of the cemetery are : Lat : 54.1232° (54° 7' 23") ; Lon : -112.4765° (-112° 28' 35").

Cemetery Cross

Photo of the cemetery

Today, the Temple stands in all its dignity as a testimonial to the hard-working and determined pioneers and founders who built it.

Priests who have served in this parish include (in order of service) :

 Archpriest Peter Vdovichenko ; Priest Evgenii Olendy ; Archpriest Nikanor Komarnintsky ; 
 Priestmonk Mefody (Osadchuk) ; Archpriest John Karateev ; Archpriest Vasily Hochachka ; 
 Priest George Marinetz ; Archbishop Panteleimon (Rudyk) ; 
 Archimandrite Germogen (Cherkasin) ; Archimandrite Dimitriy (Shchur) ; 
 Priest Kyrill Stakhowsky ; Mitred Archpriest Evgeny Bartchewsky ; 
 Archpriest Dmitry Sagan ; Priest Zayats ; Priest Anatoliy Harkusha ; 
 Archpriest Arseny Melnyk ; Archpriest Pavel Kramarenko ; Archpriest Michael Fourik ;   
 Archpriest John Shandra ; Priest Alexey Surayev.

Particular parish information

This parish is a part of the Parishes of the Moscow Patriarchate in Canada. The bishop is Bishop Matthew (Andreev).

The parish follows the Old Calendar (Julian).

The Altar Feast-day of this parish is the Feast of the Sanctification of the Temple of the Holy Resurrection in Jerusalem, 26/13 September.

In 2022, the parish is served by the Priest Alexey Surayev of the Moscow Patriarchate.

Address :

Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church

Range Road #192

Boyle, Alberta

Directions :

This parish is situated about 163 km (101 mi) northeast of Edmonton. It is 66 km (41 mi) southwest of Lac la Biche (a hamlet, a large lake, and a county).

From Edmonton, drive on Highway #28 to Highway #831. Turn left (north) towards Boyle.

Starting from the intersection of Highways #831 and #663 at the south edge of Boyle, drive 1.5 km (one mi) east and 4 km (2½ mi) north on Range Road #192.

The mailing address of the parish is the address of the priest.

Priest Alexey Surayev, Pastor of the parish

5003-46 Street, PO Box 483

Lamont, Alberta

T0B 2R0

Telephone : (780) 895-2149

Mobile : (780) 991-4981

E-mail : aleksurus@gmail.comv

Bishop Matthew (Andreev) of Sourozh,

Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in Canada

Addresses :

10812-108 Street

Edmonton, Alberta

Canada

Telephone : (780) 420-9945

OR :

67, Ennismore Gardens

London, SW7 1NH

United Kingdom

Telephone : 011-44-207-584-0096

E-mail : sourozhdiocese@me.com

References

Archdiocese of Canada — Orthodox Church in America, “The Orthodox Church in Canada : A Chronology” (Ottawa : Archdiocese of Canada, 1988).

Boyle and District Historical Society, “Forests, Furrows and Faith: A History of Boyle and Districts” (Boyle, AB : The Society, 1982)

Patriarchal Parishes of the Moscow Patriarchate in Canada, 100 years of Orthodoxy in Canada 1897-1997 : Pictorial Memories (Edmonton, Alberta : Patriarchal Parishes of the Moscow Patriarchate in Canada, 1997).

Russian Orthodox Church History Book Committee, “Patriarchal Parishes of the Russian Orthodox Church in Canada, Millennium of the Baptism of Rus’” (Edmonton : Russian Orthodox Church History Book Committee, 1988). ISBN: 0-88925-830-9.

Tarasar, Constance J, ed., "Orthodox America 1794-1976 : Development of The Orthodox Church in America" (Syosset, NY : The Orthodox Church in America Department of History and Archives, 1975). ASIN : B000ZLZAUE.

Original Article

Additional information :

Moscow Patriarchate Parishes web-site

Metropolitan Theophilus (Pashkovsky)

Metropolitan Leonty (Turkevich)

Metropolitan Ireney (Bekish)

Panteleimon (Rudyk)

Archbishop Makary (Svistun)

Bishop Job (Tyvoniuk)

Bishop Ireney (Seredniy)

Bishop Kliment (Kapalin)

Bishop Nikolai (Shkrumko)